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Musical ‘Charlie Brown’ Coming to Town

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The beloved characters of Charles M. Schulz's world-famous "Peanuts" comic strip come to life on stage as the Punxsutawney Theatre Arts Guild presents "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," the revised version of the 1967 classic Broadway musical.

Show time is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through next Saturday, at the auditorium of the Punxsutawney Area Middle School. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Music and lyrics of this award-winning family show are by Clark M. Gesner, with additional dialogue by Michael Mayer and additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa.

This two-act musical follows an average and challenging day in the lives of Charlie Brown, his younger sister Sally, their friends, Linus and Lucy Van Pelt, the Beethoven-loving Schroeder, and, of course, the irrepressible dog, Snoopy.

Through dialogue and song, the six navigate their way through philosophies, adventures and friendships to discover how to
find the simplicity and happiness of life.

Just as the cartoon has done for decades, the show recaptures the little joys of childhood while allowing the audience to embrace some of the things that make adulthood so enjoyable.

All of the familiar props and settings from the cartoon are skillfully integrated into the pacing of the show: Snoopy's doghouse, Schroeder's piano, Linus' blanket, Lucy's psychiatry booth, the school bus and the dreaded kite-eating tree.

Veteran Guild director Jef Dinsmore and his cast and crew believe that "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" creates "a wonderful sense of nostalgia by reminding theater-goers of all ages of the beauty that comes when we open our hearts to happiness, friendship, simplicity and love."

Five familiar PTAG performers and a talented newcomer are already busy memorizing lines and learning the songs.

The cast includes Doug Fye as Charlie Brown, Jessica Suntheimer as Sally Brown.

Kathy S. Dinsmore is Snoopy; and Jessica Schidlmeier is Lucy Van Pelt. Rounding out the ensemble are Timothy Lee Cooper as Linus Van Pelt and Jef Dinsmore as Schroeder.